OK. Although I got my car back with all 12 capacity bars and am reading 10% higher gid counts for an 80% charge (6% higher for a 100% charge), I have established that there is no difference in my battery capacity. In the graph below, I plot the battery voltage versus energy from the wall for three turtle to 100% charge logs. One last November, one just before the service and one just after. You can see that both the before and after service plots are almost identical (despite the charge afterward ending with higher gid count). I actually did two turtle to 100 tests this week just to make sure the first wasn't an anomaly and they both had the same result. So, no cells got replaced - looks like they may have recalibrated what a gids is but the battery performance is the same. To try to avoid overloading this thread any more, I created a separate thread to discuss the implications of variable gid:

TickTock wrote:OK. Although I got my car back with all 12 capacity bars and am reading 10% higher gid counts for an 80% charge (6% higher for a 100% charge), I have established that there is no difference in my battery capacity. In the graph below, I plot the battery voltage versus energy from the wall for three turtle to 100% charge logs. One last November, one just before the service and one just after. You can see that both the before and after service plots are almost identical (despite the charge afterward ending with higher gid count). I actually did two turtle to 100 tests this week just to make sure the first wasn't an anomaly and they both had the same result. So, no cells got replaced - looks like they may have recalibrated what a gids is but the battery performance is the same. To try to avoid overloading this thread any more, I created a separate thread to discuss the implications of variable gid:

...And (assuming TickTock's LEAF still has the original battery) it looks like his capacity at "100%" charge may have only declined from 19.12 kWh to 18.48 kWh, or ~3.5%, since his first gid reading on 10/01/11...

Randy wrote:From a recent Plug-in 2012 conversation with Nissan reps, the Smyrna-produced batteries will be the same as what has come out of Japan. There will be some slight efficiency gains in the MY 2013 car so it uses slightly less energy, but the battery will be the same...

I'd predict Nissan dealers in these states will just *strongly* suggest to customers to lease then Nissan can manage what to do with the batteries when they resell them (2ndary use them and replace the battery from the new TN plant)

So, one could conclude then, that their loss of capacity fix is simply a software change that hides it... Apparently they took a page from the Honda Hybrid playbook!

TickTock wrote:OK. Although I got my car back with all 12 capacity bars and am reading 10% higher gid counts for an 80% charge (6% higher for a 100% charge), I have established that there is no difference in my battery capacity.

Last edited by TomT on Sun Aug 12, 2012 10:56 am, edited 1 time in total.

Randy wrote:From a recent Plug-in 2012 conversation with Nissan reps, the Smyrna-produced batteries will be the same as what has come out of Japan. There will be some slight efficiency gains in the MY 2013 car so it uses slightly less energy, but the battery will be the same...

That's disappointing. It looks like Tony was correct.

scottf200 wrote:I'd predict Nissan dealers in these states will just *strongly* suggest to customers to lease then Nissan can manage what to do with the batteries when they resell them (2ndary use them and replace the battery from the new TN plant)

I wish I believed that. Unless Nissan puts an end to LEAF sales in hot climates I think dealers will continue business as usual. In fact, I expect they will be stepping up sales efforts to try to keep LEAFs from piling up on their lots.

TomT wrote:So, one could conclude then, that their loss of capacity fix is simply a software change that hides it... Apparently they took a page from the Honda Hybrid playbook!

Nice job, Nissan! NOT!

TickTock wrote:OK. Although I got my car back with all 12 capacity bars and am reading 10% higher gid counts for an 80% charge (6% higher for a 100% charge), I have established that there is no difference in my battery capacity.

If that's what they do as the "fix", I promise to personally invest my efforts to "make this right". That includes efforts towards class action strategies, and other strategies to "make them famous".

That would include things like media, picketing at Phoenix dealers, capital hill visits, etc. Personally, I think it would put Nissan in the same toilet I think Ecotality swims in.